The Quest for Immortality
In a certain sense, this is also Mo Hua’s "gesture of goodwill".
Master Xia couldn’t possibly refuse.
"This matter, only Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, and I know." Master Xia assured.
Mo Hua nodded with reassurance.
"By the way," Mo Hua remembered another matter, "Master, do you know of Master Fan Jin?"
Master Xia pondered briefly, "You mean the Supervisor from Solitary Mountain City?"
"Yes." Mo Hua nodded.
Master Xia’s expression slightly tensed and he said, "About Solitary Mountain, I sent someone to inquire; he was ambiguous, didn’t provide clear details."
Mo Hua said, "He fears Shen Family’s retaliation, so he’s been cautious. That day, he went to the Solitary Mountain Grave with me, if there’s anything you’re unsure of, you can directly ask him. If he hesitates to speak the truth due to fears of your prestige, just mention my name."
"Mention your name?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, "In the grave, Master Fan assisted me quite a bit, we have some rapport. When you mention my name, he’ll speak up."
This was also giving Master Fan Jin an opportunity.
Master Fan’s background was poor, his network lacking, wishing for progress but constantly hitting walls.
Now, Mo Hua bringing this up in front of Master Xia amounted to providing him a chance to climb higher.
Whether he can seize it depends on himself.
Master Xia understood Mo Hua’s intention.
Having rapport with Mo Hua and making Mo Hua speak up in front of him, the Inspector, surely he has some ability.
"Fan Jin," Master Xia nodded, "Alright, I’ll remember..."
All that needed to be said was said, Mo Hua drank the tea in his cup in one go, then got up to bid farewell, saying: "I’ve disturbed you, Master, Mo Hua takes his leave."
"Young Brother, take care, come again if you have time."
Master Xia’s expression was calm.
Mo Hua paid his respects, then calmly withdrew.
After Mo Hua left, Master Xia remained seated, his brow furrowed in deep thought, but he was not pondering about the Shen Family, rather about Mo Hua:
"Say no more, just this demeanor alone is extraordinary..."
"So much cleverness, yet it’s hard to discern from the outside."
"It’s a pity, his background and bloodline are too low, unable to cross the threshold for marrying into the Xia family’s direct lineage; the family’s rules are too strict, otherwise..."
Master Xia sighed lightly.
...
After bidding farewell to Master Xia, Mo Hua went, conveniently, to visit Gu Changhuai, had some snacks, chatted a while, and then returned to Taixu Gate.
Afterwards, Mo Hua remained indoors, behaved for a period.
Until ten days later, where matters concerning Solitary Mountain City temporarily settled, including affairs on Master Xia’s side, everything was processed, Mo Hua then planned a trip to Solitary Mountain City.
Xun Ziyou was still accompanying him.
This was an ancestral order; as long as Mo Hua left the sect, Xun Ziyou had to follow, ensuring no mistakes.
This command was not much.
Xun Ziyou was already accustomed to being Mo Hua’s "bodyguard", didn’t feel surprised.
But this time, Elder Master Xun’s attitude was even more serious, more solemn, as if vaguely considering Mo Hua as the sect’s ultimate treasure, rigorously protecting.
Xun Ziyou felt a bit puzzled.
Is it due to fears of the Shen Family’s retaliation because of Solitary Mountain, or... is there another deeper reason?
In the carriage, Xun Ziyou couldn’t help but observe Mo Hua.
Watching, he felt Mo Hua seemed somewhat different from before, surrounded by a hazy mist, making it even harder to discern.
"Did the Elder place some new technique?"
Xun Ziyou shook his head, sighed inwardly, "Even a close grandson wouldn’t get this treatment..."
He discarded his thoughts, no longer pondering, but expanded his Divine Sense, guarded against any potential dangers on the journey.
Bumping and rushing along, they reached Solitary Mountain City.
More than half a month passed, Solitary Mountain City had become much quieter.
Due to previous disturbances, prominent families and sects’ Golden Core cultivators created quite an uproar, though it didn’t harm the city’s cultivators, it still frightened the people of Solitary Mountain City.
Most cultivators stayed indoors.
The streets became increasingly desolate, fewer cultivators roamed about.
Far away, Solitary Mountain had collapsed halfway; compared to Solitary Mountain City, it now resembled "Half Mountain City".
This was Shen Family’s "work".
To cover up crimes, bodies were burned, tombs filled, finally directly blowing up half of Solitary Mountain, burying everything under an unknown depth.
This is a Third-Grade State Boundary; many mountain stones and geology in Solitary Mountain were also Third-Grade, extremely hard, difficult to excavate.
Once buried, nearly impossible to see daylight again.
Including the deepest part of Solitary Mountain, the Evil Embryo’s Divine Temple.
Mo Hua silently watched the collapsed half-mount Solitary Mountain.
Even now, recalling that Divine Temple, he still feels a faint sense of eeriness.
He always felt he narrowly missed something...
Now, the Divine Temple was submerged, no way to investigate further.
Mo Hua withdrew his gaze, stopping his thoughts.
The carriage entered the city, unimpeded, few visiting cultivators on the street.
Now within the city, no trace of various families and sect cultivators, including Shen Family.
Shen Family was stripped of Solitary Mountain City’s ownership by the Taoist Court.
This was Master Xia’s operation; with the Taoist Court’s authority, forcibly expelling the Shen Family cultivators from Solitary Mountain City, imposing a ban on them returning.
Although Shen Family covered up evidence, blowing up half of Solitary Mountain, Taoist Court’s accountability deemed this a major negligence.
Moreover, what truly occurred within Solitary Mountain, people aren’t fools, everyone speculates.
Shen Family, knowing their fault, dared not make more fuss over this.
With Shen Family gone, other families intending to take a bite out of them naturally retreated.
No one cared about this city depleted of value, impoverished and remote, utterly worthless Solitary Mountain City.
Now Solitary Mountain City truly "settled down".
Mo Hua sat in the carriage, traveled along the avenue, all the way to Master Gu’s Refinery Shop.
Master Gu was early at the entrance to greet; seeing Mo Hua, he immediately cupped his hands in a bow, gratefully said: "Thanks for your efforts, Young Master Mo."
"Master Gu, no need for formalities." Mo Hua gently smiled, "Is everything prepared?"
"Following Young Master’s instructions, get Gu family’s permission and Lady Wan’s approval, the Spiritual Machines have been transported, manpower is arranged thoroughly."
"Good, then let’s begin..."
Mo Hua nodded, his eyes bright.
He intended to give the loose cultivators of Solitary Mountain City a foundation to settle and live.
Divine Sense Twenty Patterns, Formation Master above Second Grade High-Rank, profound formation accomplishments.
Relying on his ability, Mo Hua was already capable of achieving much.
He recalled the Taoist Heart established facing the myriad lights in Tongxian City: .
This life he shall strive for cultivation, comprehend formations, with formations reaching heaven and earth, seek for eternal life, defy destiny.
To change his own fate and the fate of all cultivators under Heaven...
Now, Mo Hua was no longer that novice child; he knew the Nine State vast, his ambition dauntingly difficult.
But the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Great deeds start from small actions.
Now, he’s in Taixu Gate, became the Formation Leader, Divine Thought Formation.
His own Life Chart was gradually being rewritten.
Thus, within his capabilities, he wished to alter the fate of these impoverished cultivators.
First change the destiny of one person, then change the destiny of one city.
Gathering sands becomes a tower, accumulating water forms a river.
One day, when he masters creation, formations reaching heaven, he could alter the heavenly secrets of the Nine State’s great trend and change the Life Chart of all beings under Heaven.
With this, to prove his Taoist Heart.
Seek true eternal life.